Varga Katalin Secondary School

The Varga Katalin Secondary School (since 2007 officially Varga Katalin Gimnázium – Varga Katalin Secondary School) is a secondary school in Szolnok, Hungary established in 1930, which was named after Katalin Bánffy between 1936 and 1951. It is located in the former Obermayer-Hubay apartment house, which is one of the oldest buildings in the town. Its address is Szabadság tér 6, near the confluence of the Tisza and Zagyva rivers. The school is home to four basic courses of study, outlined in detail below, including one of the country's oldest Hungarian-English bilingual programs (wherein math, physics, biology and history are taught in English). In addition, it was one of the founding schools of the Arany János Program for Talented Youth. At the end of the 1970s the school was the sole location in Hungary of UNESCO research. The rate of acceptance to higher education is consistently above 85%. The school is also well known for its international relations, international programs, and innovative educational policy. History On 4 July 1930, the Hungarian Ministry of Religion and Public Education decided to found the Royal Hungarian School for Girls of Szolnok; on 7 July the establishment of the school was authorized by Minister of Culture Count Kunó von Klebelsberg. The first headmaster of the school was Géza Wollek, who was also headmaster of Szolnok's Verseghy Ferenc Grammar School at the time; the school's first teacher was Dr. Ilona Vatter. The school was the second school for higher education of girls in Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok County. The school's foundation had been urged by the city's main doctor, Dr. István Elek, in the name of women's rights. He helped additionally with the donation of 250 pengős. The educational institution form lyceum was chosen instead of gymnasium because the founders thought that the Latin language was unnecessary and difficult for the girls. Teaching began 1 September 1930, in the building which today houses Szolnok's Belvárosi Primary School, thanks to the assistance of Headmistress Elvira Ellmann. The present school building was first used in 1932, the same year in which the school was moved from the Outer Budapest school district to the Debrecen school district. On 1 February 1935, Dr. György Kurucz became headmaster of the school, effectively establishing its autonomy.